Square Pegs Arts are an award winning Charity who provide drama groups, music projects and other accessible Arts opportunities for children and young adults who have learning disabilities and autism, and produce original, inspiring, challenging Theatre. Difference is celebrated and everyone is supported to shine in their own way.

We want to #ChangeKent. How? By creating more artistic events and opportunities for young people. By motivating young people to be creative, and to try art forms they wouldn’t usually think of. By introducing them to new work that they may not have been able to access before. By developing relationships between arts organisations and young people, leading young people to take control and get involved in making decisions.

TECH31KENT’s weekly training sessions will introduce 13-18 year olds to the technical side of theatre, providing training to young people and on job experience of working back stage in a theatre and other live events.

What we're excited about

We put together a list of what's happening online so you don't miss out on some exciting opportunities from our partners and friends. During this period of isolation, we will keep this list updated so keep checking back.

What we do

TECH31KENT

TECH31KENT’s weekly training sessions will introduce 13-18 year olds to the technical side of theatre, providing training to young people and on job experience of working back stage in a theatre and other live events.

TECH31 team run ART31 events, including UPrising 2017.

TECH31KENT is the technical strand of ART31KENT, a group set up for 13-25 year olds to provide on the job training in technical theatre across Kent, this project is being piloted in Canterbury with great success. 13-18s will get the chance to learn the basics of sound, lighting, stage management and more, to give them the skills to work on events.

TECH31: 1 to 3pm Sundays

All creative learning and participation activity at Gulbenkian has been cancelled.In line with government advice, Gulbenkian and Colyer-Fergusson Hall are now closed until 30 April 2020.If you or a dependent participates in a Gulbenkian Creative Learning activity you will be notified of the cancellation of these sessions. Please do not contact our Ticket office, we will contact you over the upcoming days. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Spring 2020 Dates: Sunday 2nd February to Sunday 29th March 2020

Summer 2020 Term dates: 10th May – 19th July (half term on 24th May – No session)

These workshops are FREE.For more information and to get an application form, please email us at creativelearning@kent.ac.uk if you would like any further info.

Funded by ART31 KENTART31KENT is a youth leadership project funded through Gulbenkian’s NPO status, granted by Arts Council England. More information about ART31 here or visit the ART31 KENT.

ART31 takes its name from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, which states that ‘Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’.

There are a number of dedicated ART31 groups across Kent. The pilot group started at Gulbenkian, Canterbury, in 2013 and since then other groups have sprung up at Pie Factory Music, Ramsgate and Jasmin Vardimon Company, Ashford, with others in the pipeline. These groups meet regularly to plan ART31 events, as well as develop event management/front of house/marketing skills, meet companies, take part in workshops and see new and exciting artistic work. MEDIA31, SCREEN31, Gulbenkian Uncovered, ARTY31, TECH31KENT and TECHY31 are part of ART31.

"I have enjoyed meeting new people, learning new skills, helping in shows." TECH31KENT member

"I just want to start by saying how grateful I am to all of you, Harry has really enjoyed doing TECH31. He absolutely loves it. It's helped him to decide his career path for definite in technical lighting…we are both so grateful for the opportunities that the Gulbenkian have given Harry so far." Tracey, Parent

"The sessions are fun and the mentors managed to keep the sessions fresh and interesting." TECH31KENT member

Also from the Gulbenkian

We want to #ChangeKent. How? By creating more artistic events and opportunities for young people. By motivating young people to be creative, and to try art forms they wouldn’t usually think of. By introducing them to new work that they may not have been able to access before. By developing relationships between arts organisations and young people, leading young people to take control and get involved in making decisions.

NT Connections is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival. Each year it offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school theatre groups to stage new plays written for young people by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform in leading theatres across the UK.

Square Pegs Arts are an award winning Charity who provide drama groups, music projects and other accessible Arts opportunities for children and young adults who have learning disabilities and autism, and produce original, inspiring, challenging Theatre. Difference is celebrated and everyone is supported to shine in their own way.

We want to #ChangeKent. How? By creating more artistic events and opportunities for young people. By motivating young people to be creative, and to try art forms they wouldn’t usually think of. By introducing them to new work that they may not have been able to access before. By developing relationships between arts organisations and young people, leading young people to take control and get involved in making decisions.

TECH31KENT’s weekly training sessions will introduce 13-18 year olds to the technical side of theatre, providing training to young people and on job experience of working back stage in a theatre and other live events.